Region 10 News Release  01-174
Oct. 5, 2001
Contact: Jeannine Lupton
Phone: 206-553-7620

SEATTLE - The Northwest Public Power Association in Vancouver, Wash., will receive a $439,020 grant, part of the latest round of Susan Harwood Training Grants, the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today. The grant is one of $10.6 million awarded to 61 nonprofit organizations for safety and health training programs. Grants were awarded for workers employed in high-risk activities or hazards and those affected by new or revised OSHA standards.

"These grants are a key part of OSHA's safety and health partnership and compliance assistance programs with workers and employers that contribute to our overall safety and health mission," said U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "Safety and health training add value to all of America's workplace operations and directly impact the bottom line -- fewer injuries and illnesses. Good safety and health practices also add value indirectly by increasing performance, productivity, innovation and creativity."

The Northwest Public Power Association in Vancouver will provide training on several safety subjects to workers and employers from high-risk, hazardous occupations of electrical or electrical interfacing industries. Training will include construction of a mock town that encompasses utility poles and wires, fiber optic cables, substations, transmission towers, houses, businesses, and streets.

The training grants are named in honor of the late Susan Harwood, a former director of the Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA's Health Standards Directorate, who died in 1996. During her 17-year tenure with the agency, Harwood helped develop OSHA standards to protect workers exposed to blood borne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead in construction.

The grants target safety and health training programs in construction; blood borne pathogens; ergonomics; electrical power generation, transmission and distribution; and hard-to-reach workers. The five training topics are based on injuries and illnesses in selected industries identified in the OSHA Strategic Plan.

"These grants are part of our comprehensive compliance assistance efforts to help workers and employers create safe work environments," said OSHA Administrator John L. Henshaw. "Training supported by these grants takes a pro-active approach in America's workplaces, focusing on workers who are most at risk."

Twenty-eight new grantees were selected through a national competition open to all non-profit organizations, including 15 that provide outreach to Hispanic workers. Grant recipients include five universities or colleges, four labor-management councils, five unions, four employer associations and ten other non-profit organizations.

Grants were awarded for a 12-month period. The average federal award is $150,000. If first year performance is satisfactory and funds are available, grants may be renewed for an additional 12-month period.

In addition, $4.7 million was awarded to renew 33 existing grants for another year. $3.3 million was awarded for 17 Institutional Competency Building Grants, which are intended to develop ongoing safety, and health training and service programs that will continue after the grant period ends; and $1.4 million for 16 Strategic Planning Grants that assist non-profit organizations in targeting specific hazards in construction, food processing and nursing homes.

A complete listing of grantees with details on their training proposals is available on the OSHAWebsite at www.osha.gov under training.

Note: For more information on this grant please contact Jon Juette at 509-521-6656.